Virginia Law

A. There is created in the Office of the Governor, the position of Assistant to the Governor for Intergovernmental Affairs (the Assistant to the Governor) to serve as the link between the Commonwealth and the United States Congress; the White House; federal departments, agencies bureaus, offices and entities; and other states and territories.

B. The Assistant to the Governor for Intergovernmental Affairs shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

1978, c. 515, § 2.1-564; 1979, c. 429; 1981, c. 315; 1982, c. 421; 2001, c. 844; 2011, cc. 827, 867; 2013, cc. 231, 401.

A. The Assistant to the Governor shall be responsible for tasks assigned by law or by the Governor.

B. The Assistant to the Governor may hire staff and accept offers of service from volunteers on a full-time or part-time basis.

C. The Assistant to the Governor may obtain, either in the City of Washington, D.C., or at some location within the Commonwealth within 25 miles of Washington, D.C., such office space as he deems necessary for carrying out the duties imposed on him by this chapter.

1978, c. 515, §§ 2.1-565, 2.1-566; 1981, c. 315; 2001, c. 844; 2011, cc. 827, 867; 2013, cc. 231, 401.

It shall be the responsibility of the Assistant to the Governor, generally, to serve as an institutional and organizational link between the government of the Commonwealth and those agencies, bureaus, departments, offices, and entities of the United States government located in the City of Washington, D.C., and its immediate environs. The responsibilities of the Assistant to the Governor shall include, but not necessarily be limited to:

1. Monitoring, tracking, and conducting in-depth analyses of federal legislation and regulations that have a direct impact on the Commonwealth and providing the Governor, the appropriate Cabinet Secretaries, and state agencies with up-to-date information on the status of such federal legislation and regulations, including the potential impact on the Commonwealth and coordination of state positions on such legislation and regulations;

2. Influencing the development and outcome of federal legislation by keeping the Virginia Congressional Delegation informed about the Governor's priorities and the impact that such legislation will have on the management, the budget, and the citizens of the Commonwealth;

3. Providing advice regarding written or oral testimony to be presented by the Governor or state agency heads before Congressional committees;

4. Alerting state agencies to early opportunities for federal grants and working with the Department of Planning and Budget to monitor and track the status of federal grant applications submitted by state agencies;

5. Joining in cooperative efforts with other states, through other offices of intergovernmental affairs, governors associations, and interstate groups with which the Commonwealth has an affiliation, on issues of mutual concern;

6. Serving as an information source about the Commonwealth upon the request of (i) another state's governor's office or Congressional member's staff, (ii) the White House, (iii) a federal agency, or (iv) the embassy of a foreign country;

7. Assisting state agency officials in (i) resolving administrative problems that may occur between the state agency and federal agencies and (ii) obtaining needed information from the federal government;

8. Arranging meetings between federal and state officials; and

9. Reporting twice yearly to the members of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, the House Committee on Appropriations, and the Governor on all federal mandates and regulations that may have an effect on the Commonwealth. These reports shall be presented by January 31 and July 31 of each year and shall contain the recorded votes of each member of the Virginia Congressional Delegation for all such legislation.

1978, c. 515, § 2.1-567; 1981, c. 315; 1994, c. 479; 1997, c. 67; 2001, c. 844; 2011, cc. 827, 867; 2013, cc. 231, 401.

It is the public policy of the Commonwealth to support federal efforts to encourage pooling of health insurance by small businesses, provided any such health insurance plans remain subject to state law.

2006, c. 910.

The Assistant to the Governor shall be charged with the coordination of his work with that of the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget. The Department of Planning and Budget shall provide the Assistant to the Governor with such support, beyond that provided for in §§ 2.2-301 and 2.2-302, as may prove necessary.

1978, c. 515, § 2.1-568; 1981, c. 315; 2001, c. 844; 2011, cc. 827, 867; 2013, cc. 231, 401.